Metallic vehicle-body.



W. D. GEROW 61 F. O.-PRUSIA.

METALLIC VEHICLE BODY. APPLICATION FILED DEC.2,1916.

Patented July 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[96(72225): Prvs W. D. GEROW & F. 0 PRUSIA.

METALLlC VEHICLE BODY. APPLICATION FILED nc.2, Isms.

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WILLIAM D. GERO H AND FRANKLIN v(3. PBUS'QA,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

METALLIC VEHICLE-BODY.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

?atented July 9, 1918.

application filed December 2, 1916. Serial No. 134,569.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that w i l inward D. Gnnow and FRANKLIN ()2 PRUSIA, both citizens of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of ll ayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in liletallio Vehicle- Bodies, of which the following a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to metallic bodies for vehicles and has particular reference to the construction of a metallic frame for supporting the metal sheets. it is the object of the invention to obtain a construction of frame which may be readily fashioned de-' sired and which is adapted to be easily secured to the sheet-metal panels, affording a stable support therefor.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a metallic vehicle body embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the supporting base frame;

Fig.4 is a perspective view of a portion of the sill;

Fig. 5 is a section on line iii-03 Fig. 1.

Broadly described, our invention comprises the use of fashioned ribs of channelshaped cross-section assembled to constitute the frame and having the channels arranged:

so that the sidesthereof lie adjacent to the inner and outer sheet-metal panels. in deail, the base or sill of the frame is composed of a longitudinal channel strip A fashioned to the desired contour and bent to extend around the entire frame. This strip is braced by transverse braces 13 also formed of channel bars. Strut-s D are preferably arranged between the sides of the channel at frequent intervals, these being formed of U-shaped members spotweldcd or otherwise secured in position.

Upon the base frame or sill are mounted the post sect-ions E also formed of channel strips pressed to the desired contour. At the top the posts are connected by a fashioned frame bar F also formed of channel All of these parts may be readily united to each other by overlapping the sides of the adjacent channel bars and spot-welding or otherwise securing the same to each other. The same construction may be used i in forming the door frames, as indicated at G. and seat frames, as indicated at H. D1"

be arranged wherever agonal braces I may the desired degree of necessary to impart strength.

Upon the frame constructed as described, the pressed sheets forming the panels of the body are laid and are attached, preferably by spot-Welding; at frequent intervals to the adjacent flanges of the bars.

A. body constructed as abov describedhas the advantage of being entirely metallic and at the same time the various elements of the frame make it easily fashioned and quickly assembled. It therefore has an obvious advantage over constructions employing Wooden frames for supporting the metallic sheets.

To conform to t web portion A of the channel bar A, which forms the sill, may be inclined as showmand to support the floor boards the lower flange A may be extended beyond the upper flange so as to produce a. supporting-ledge for the ends of said floor boards J. Thus the ends of the boards may abutagainst the upper ends of the channel While the lower flange will afford the necessary support.

What We claim as our invention is:

1. In a metallic body for vehicles, a frame comprising fashioned metallic bars of channel cross section arranged With the sides of the channel conforming to the curvature of the metallic sheets to be secured thereto.

2. In a metallic body for vehicles, a frame comprising fashioned metallic bars of channel cross. section, the sides of the channels conforming to the curvature of the sheets to be attached thereto, said bars being secured to each other by overlapping the flanges thereof.

3. In a metallic body for vehicles, a frame formed of curved metallic bars of channel cross section, sail bars intersecting and o *erlapping each other, the overlapping ortions being spot-Welded, and sheet-metal panels overlying said frame and Welded to the sides of the bars thereof.

4. In a metallic body for vehicles, a frame formed of fashioned curved bars of channel cross section, the sides of said bars being arranged parallel to the body sheets and the joint between adjacent bars being formed overlapping sides secured to each other,

he contour of the body the and body sheets overlying said bars and to the upper ends of said-posts, all of said inembers being formed "of metallic channel l oars secured to each other by overlapping portions of the flanges thereoi.

' 6. In a metallic body for vehicles, a supporting framevforined of'inetallic channel 'bars and comprising a sill bar, upwardly-extendingposts and a top border frame, the

flanges of the'sill being arranged in l1orizontal planes and the flanges of the posts and top frame conforming to the curvature of the body sheets.

7. In a'- metallic body I01 VBlllClES, a supporting frame, comprising a sill formed of a metallic channel bar, the parallel flanges .of which lie in horizontal planes, the Web portionof said bar being inclined to conform to the contour of the body and the lower flange projecting beyond the edge of the upper flange and a floor board resting upon said lower flange and abutting against said upper flange.

8. In a metallic body for vehicles, fashioned upwardly-extending posts and a fashioned top border frame formed of metallic channel bars, the sides of said bars conforming to the surfaces of the inner and outer body sheets to be secured thereto.

9. In a metallic body for vehicles, the combination With a fashioned frame, of inner and outer curved sheets to be secured thereto, said'frame comprising fashioned metallic bars of channel cross section ar-' rangement intermediate sai'd sheets with the sides of the channels conforming to the curvature of the sheets.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures.

WILLIAM l). GEROW. FRANKLIN O. PRUSIA. 

